Perspectives 20-30

What is the perspective of young people on the future of European security? Which topics are important to them, what do they identify as the biggest challenges, which practical recommendations do they have?

Young people constitute a majority of population in the OSCE area, but are not sufficiently involved in policy-making and public debate. Many of them actively engage in their local communities and care about peace in Europe at large. They are worried about unresolved conflicts, increasing distrust and decline of international cooperation. Their voices deserve being heard. Perspectives 20-30 is an initiative of the OSCE and FES ROCPE to provide a platform for young women and men to formulate and discuss with decision-makers a vision for how a safer future in the OSCE area could look by 2030 and beyond.

The recommendations of the young experts were debated with diplomats and young delegates at the OSCE-wide Youth Forum in Bratislava in October 2019. An official handover of the final report “Perspectives 20-30” to the Chairman-in-Office Miroslav Lajčák followed at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava in December 2019.

Members

Mr Abdulvahhobi Muminjoniyon, Tajikistan

Ms Aigerim Seitenova, Kazakhstan

Ms Amela Saric, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms Anna Blue, United States

Ms Anneka Shally, United Kingdom

Mr David Ruah, Portugal

Ms Galya Rebecca Hovhannisyan, Armenia

Ms Hande Taner, Netherlands

Ms Heather Mann, United Kingdom

Ms Iuliia Maskova, Russian Federation

Ms Ivana Vuchkova, North Macedonia

Mr Julian Demmer, Germany

Mr Kanatbek Abdiev, Kyrgyzstan

Ms Katarina Kertysova, Slovakia

Ms Kristina Arakelova, Georgia

Mr Mikhail Frolov, Russian Federation

Ms Nicole Grajewski, United States

Mr Ognjen Markovic, Montenegro

Mr Taha Kaan Isleyici, Turkey

Mr Turan Gafarli, Azerbaijan

Ms Uliana Yehorova, Ukraine

Mr Zarije Kocic, Serbia

The members of the Core Group of Experts were selected from hundreds of applicants responding to an open call. These twenty-two young professionals, between the ages of twenty and thirty, were chosen on the basis of their expertise, motivation, and networks. They reflect the gender and geographical diversity of the OSCE area and come from a wide range of backgrounds including academia, civil society, policymaking, and the media. They contribute to the Perspectives 20-30 initiative in their personal capacity on a voluntary basis.

FES Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (FES ROCPE)

Timeline

2020

Roadshow (public presentations) in several European cities by FES in partnership with the OSCE. The aim is to generate debate about concrete steps towards a safer future. At the end of the roadshow will be an analytical paper reflecting all discussions.

Throughout 2019

Members of “Perspectives 20-30” speak at various OSCE events

December 2019

OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava; side event “Young voices for a safer future” together with the OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and Chairman-in-Office Miroslav Lajčák

October 2019

OSCE Youth Forum in Bratislava; discussing “Perspectives 20-30” with diplomats and young delegates from across the OSCE space

July 2019

Second meeting of the Core Group of Experts at FES ROCPE; elaboration of the final report “Perspectives 20-30”

May 2019

First meeting of the Core Group of Experts at the OSCE Secretariat; brainstorming in six thematic sub-groups

March 2019

Open OSCE-wide call for participation in the project and selection of 22 young participants (Core Group of Experts)

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a non-profit German foundation funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and headquartered in Bonn and Berlin. It was founded in 1925 and is named after Germany's first democratically elected President, Friedrich Ebert. FES is committed to the advancement of both socio-political and economic development in the spirit of social democracy, through civic education, research, and international cooperation. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is the oldest political foundation in Germany.